# Trump suspends refugee program, leaves thousands in limbo

> Trump's refugee program suspension traps families in Iran after 2025 cutoff.
- Title: Trump suspends refugee program, leaves thousands in limbo
- Summary: Trump's refugee program suspension traps families in Iran after 2025 cutoff. Trump's suspension of the Lautenberg refugee program since January 2025 has left…
- Keywords: lautenberg program, refugee program, trump administration, religious minorities, iran, resettlement, persecuted minorities, suspension, clinical depression, family separation, news, local
- Source: The Boston Globe — https://bostonglobe.com/2026/10/09/opinion/letters-refugees-limbo-lautenberg-program-suspended
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lautenberg program, refugee program, trump administration, religious minorities, iran, resettlement, persecuted minorities, suspension, clinical depression, family separation, news, local
## Lautenberg Program suspension
The Lautenberg Program, named for New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg, was enacted in 1990 to resettlement for persecuted religious minorities.
## Thousands stranded since 2025
The program's suspension since January 2025 has left thousands of persecuted religious minorities without resettlement pathways.
## Helbert's story
Helbert, an Armenian Christian from Iran, was approved for resettlement but remains stuck in Iran after the program's suspension in 2025.
## Key takeaway

Trump's suspension of the Lautenberg refugee program since January 2025 has left thousands of persecuted religious minorities stranded without resettlement.